St. Willibrord

St. Willibrord was born around 658 in Northumbria, England, and died on 7 November 739 at Echternach (in modern Luxembourg). Educated in the monasteries of England and Ireland, he was ordained a priest and, burning with missionary zeal, crossed to the Continent around 690 with a band of companions to bring the Gospel to the pagan Frisians of the Low Countries.

With the support of the Frankish rulers and the blessing of the pope, who consecrated him bishop, he established the see of Utrecht — becoming its first bishop — and founded the great monastery of Echternach as a center for his mission. Despite setbacks and the resistance of pagan chieftains, he labored for nearly fifty years to plant and organize the Church among the Frisians, earning the title 'Apostle of the Frisians.' He is venerated as a saint and is a patron of Luxembourg and the Netherlands.